For some reason Mommies seem to be rather hard to buy for. Perhaps because we never really know what we want, or perhaps because what we really want always seems so practical (at least that is the case with this mommy!) I often find myself asking for kitchen gadgets or household items or some other thing that will make my life as a mommy more efficient/easier.
That’s why I wanted to do this post!
I decided to think through some of the gifts I’ve received that were not the least bit practical, but have proved to be some of my favorites over the years. And you have no idea how hard this is to do since some of my favorite gifts have been things like my Bosch mixer (more on that at the bottom of this post!) and my Pampered Chef baking stones! But here goes…
Widow’s mite necklace
I first shared this gift with you in my post entitled: It’s a Sacrifice. While this was a gift from Sonlight rather than from my family, it has come to be something I cherish because of the meaning behind it. The widow in Mark 12 gave everything she had. As a mama, I have been called to give much throughout the years, including my own child. Each mother I know has sacrificed something in her life. This pendant rejoices in that.
You can purchase this pendant for $32.95 from The Jerusalem Gift Shop. (they are wonderful advertisers here on the blog and excellent in customer care!)
Philosophy Cinnamon Buns Shower Gel
Can I use the word decadent? I have never in my life smelled anything that even comes close to this! You can literally smell the butter and cinnamon and sugar in this soap! I received this gift as a thank you for teaching elementary Spanish to a homeschool family in my hometown. When that bottle was finished, my husband bought me another. That was several years ago, but I have never forgotten the smell and the way it brought a smile to my face every time I opened up that bottle!
You can purchase a 16oz bottle of Cinnamon Buns shower gel for $16.00 at Philosophy.com. (yes, I know that is a steep price for soap, but remember, this post is not supposed to be practical in any way, shape, or form!)
Willow Tree Figurines
Almost every mama I know owns at least one of these. Their simple elegance and gift for telling a story in such beautiful form makes me cry. The figure above is my “Emily” Willow Tree. While we received many throughout her illness and death, this one has come to embody comfort amidst grief for me. I also have an entire shelf of these figurines that tells the story of our lives from the beginnings of our marriage, to the death of my father, to the births of each and every child. They are very dear to me.
Willow Tree figurines can be purchased online
and at local shops across the nation. The figure above, entitled “Angel’s Embrace,” also comes as a Christmas ornament.
A Massage
I know not everyone is comfortable with this, but a good massage therapist can work wonders on a tired mommy’s body! In fact, I like to go in several times during my pregnancies to relieve achy hips and tense shoulders. Ask around to find a good massage therapist (and if you are pregnant, find one who is certified in prenatal massage and owns a “belly” table—a massage table with a cutout place for your belly)
In my neck of the woods, massages run about $40-50 per hour.
DeJaVu Nail Care Set
My husband, after a jaunt to the mall the year I was due on Christmas day, came home with this present for me. You will croak when you see the price (he wouldn’t tell me what he paid, but he did tell me he got a better deal at the mall), but let me tell you, this stuff is amazing! And boy, do you feel pampered! (which was just what I needed that year)
You can purchase DeJaVu Nail Care in 4 different fragrances for $45.99 from DeJaVu-Cosmetics.com.
I’m sure there are others I should be sharing with you, but my poor mommy brain can’t remember them. So, while I still tend to lean toward the practical, I must say every now and then it is fun to receive something not-so practical…just because!
HOWEVER…
Just in case you WOULD like a new Bosch mixer for Christmas (because they are fun too and I still smile every time I use mine–5 years and counting!), here’s a coupon code just for Raising Arrows readers:
{It just goes to show you can take the mommy out of the kitchen, but you can’t take the kitchen out of the mommy!}
This post is linked to:
I sometimes had a hard time trying to figure out what to tell those who ask what I want for Christmas. Thanks for the list. Some of my favorite gifts have been book off my reading list and last year it was a new vacuum. My hubby gave me the one I’d been saying I wanted when I needed to replace the one I had.
I like impractical chocolate anytime! That being said I was thrilled to pieces to find out I was getting a rice cooker for my birthday.
We must have gotten our Boschs the same year. What a great Christmas gift! We use it every day around here! This year I picked up two presents for some of the children to give me…a set of very colorful nesting mixing bowls and Large Family Logistics. After looking through the book I ordered another one for my oldest daughter who just had her third baby a few weeks ago! I also would love an Excaliber dehydrator this year….we’ll see!
I just got my copy of Large Family Logistics too! This post was nearly impossible for me to do! It is so much easier for me to think of practical things I want/need. I remember hearing a talk show host rail about men buying appliances for their wives for birthdays and holidays and thinking how I LOVE to get appliances! lol
The Willow Tree figure you pictured is the very one I have asked for as one of my Christmas gifts. I have 4 children and my oldest daughter is like a “2nd mother” to the youngest boy (he is 4 and she is 10) When she picks him up to hold, he holds on just like the little boy in the figure and she wraps around him exactly like the angel does. It’s like someone has been watching them and captured this special moment in time. I tear up every time I see this special piece (BTW … I’m pretty sure that my special 10 yr old daughter is making sure that this is the gift she is giving me this year and that makes it even more special to me)
I just celebrated my birthday. When my husband asked me if I minded getting the blinds (that don’t OPEN) replaced in my dining room I about jumped for joy! Guess I’m pretty practical here too!!! I do love the Willow Tree figurines though.
Fantastic list! My husband refuses to call anything practical a gift. He’d love for me to make a list like this, if we has any money to buy gifts. =)
oops…I meant “had”
Great list. Oh, I have a blog post in my drafts box on why I need a Bosch. It’s a Q, really. BUT I do want one.
Maybe some day.
I’d love to hear more about your Bosch Mixer – do you just use it for baking or do you have the blender or food processor attachments?
I’d like to write a post about it someday, but here’s a (sort of) quick answer:
I use it for making cookies (I have the cookie paddles–a must in my opinion), I do all my whole wheat bread in it b/c it can handle up to 6 loaves at a time! I’ve done mashed potatoes in it w/ the whisks, when I was getting raw milk, I made my butter in it. And the list goes on…
I used to have the blender attachment, but we got a VitaMix and I use that exclusively for blender stuff now. I also bought the slicer/shredder from Marmee a few years ago b/c we were buying cheese blocks in bulk and grating soap as well. That attachment makes quick work of such things (great for zucchini and squash too!)
It sits on my counter b/c I literally use it every single day. I’ve been hard on it these past 5 years and did manage to break a cookie paddle about 6 months ago. However, I contacted Marmee and she gave me a number to call of a VERY nice gentleman who quickly replaced the part for me FREE of charge! So the customer service w/ these is outstanding as well!
(can you tell I really adore my Bosch??? lol)
Love this post… especially the coupon code for the new bosch (I love marmee’s site, btw)… too bad we won’t be able to buy one… don’t have the money and I can’t do much baking because of my daughter, Abigail, needing constant care… so it wouldn’t be worth it for me, my kitchen aid will do for now… I love to bake though! Anyway, thanks for sharing this oppurtunity with others!
The cinnamon buns shower gel sounds absolutely fantastic … and I love Willow Tree, myself. A beautiful way to help memorize the joy we find in our families! Have a blessed day!
Ooh cinnamon buns shower gel sounds amazing!! I bet that would be a good scent for a Christmas gift too! Practical gifts are well and good (we like practicality at AboutOne) but some good old fashioned fun gifts are always good too!! Thanks for sharing.
I love my Bosch. I’ve had it for 10 years now, and it still works great. Best kitchen investment we’ve ever made. I mix at least 8 loaves of bread in it a week. And the Willow Tree figurines are my favorite impractical gift.
Love this post! I’m a fan of practical gifts, but I also love getting the impractical things that I wouldn’t get for myself.
Hub claims I am impossible to buy for because if I need something, I just buy it. True enough. I don’t want what I NEED for Christmas. I want what I WANT. Like, I don’t need a rice cooker, but I want one. Still practical. And I would never buy one for myself. Oh, who am I kidding. I’ll take anything!
In our families, Christmas gifts are for kids, so I don’t have to even think about what I want. Although I did just receive The Evidence Bible from Way of the Master. I closed my eyes, handed it to hubby, and said: Wrap this up for me for Christmas. I’ll be thrilled!
Cute, Ginger! Ty and I were just talking this year about how we didn’t really want anything for Christmas. So often, if there is something we really need, we just get it when we need it, rather than wait. (However, I did tell him I “might” would like a bottle of the cinnamon bun soap…since it has been son long!) I’ve heard of that Bible…you’ll have to let me know more about it as you read!